Andy_P

May be of interest for those unable to make it to Hampden on the 27th, I notice that Alba will be broadcasting the U20 Final live.

I saw Maureen Kirkwood manning a desk with a WS banner at the top of the stairs in the East Stand as I went in so there was certainly a 'Well Society presence. How much of an uptake there was for information or sign-ups I've no idea.

I caught up with my Airdrie supporting mate at the weekend and asked him about Ferguson and Mackin. He wasn't too complimentary in all honesty! On Ferguson he said he's been the better of the two but has still had a bit of a hard time from their support. He believes he was brought in because of his ability to cover all positions in defence but has ended up playing a single position and has taken the place of one of their own youngsters. We've had the same conversation ourselves in the past but he reckons some of their support have held that against him. On Mackin he hasn't been impressed and says he's doesn't look interested. He doesn't recognise the player who is routinely banging the goals in for our 20's. He did qualify his remarks by quickly pointing out that I had to remember that the manager who brought the two in isn't in charge, the team they are playing in are absolutely rank and that with about 90% of the team about to freed because they are about to go full-time morale is at rock bottom. Clearly the only opinions that really matter here are those of McGhee, Craigan and Lasley but interesting views and particularly the context of the team they've been playing with.

Yeah, that was my recollection also when he signed. I would be pleasantly surprised if Middlesbrough would consider sending him back to Scotland for another season. If they still have a development route in mind for him, as it not staying with them as backup for their existing keeper, I would suspect they would prefer to see how he fared with a full season at an English Championship side.

Not an unreasonable concern in fairness. How many times have you seen on here or heard supporters query where the money from the good times like Europe, the Scottish Cup Final and the second place finishes went. The fact is that a fair proportion of it was swallowed up in the form of bonus money to players because the club honoured a structure at a time when one of biggest clubs disappeared from the league along with the additional finance monies from games with them brought. You can argue the point whether that was right or wrong but that was the scenario. I do think though that those who were on such deals at that time have either moved on, or are different contracts so the concern isn't as pressing as it might have been two or three seasons ago.

I know that. Hence the smiley.

Jeez oh! I don't know what age you are and I know we're all prone to bit of exaggeration from time to time but that's a hell of claim to make even on what we've witnessed in the last year and a half. However that said..... ....Poacher turned Gamekeeper?

Your thoughts and votes please...

Disappointing to lose but that disappointment is being ever more tempered by the scorelines at the time of writing as they are in Dingwall, KIlmarnock and Hamilton. It was frustrating to concede just before half-time but difficult to argue it wasn't merited given the balance of play in the first half. A bit of a goalkeeping masterclass from Connor Ripey who was magnificent. Given the fact we still went in behind having played pretty cautiously you could argue, as the guys around us were, that McGhee got it wrong with his tactics in the first half. Personally I was satisfied enough that with the fact that by hook, or by crook, we were keeping them out - until we conceded of course - but could understand the desire to see us show more ambition. That we certainly did in the second half and looked much more like the team we know we can be. When it came, the equaliser was well deserved on the balance of play and it only makes it that bit more frustrating that we conceded at a point we were looking very comfortable and through what was one of the more routine shots sent towards Ripley. But in the grand scheme of things it looks like we're looking good for the top six without it having had a bearing on things. And I'd have taken that before kick-off.

I'm afraid as a responsible moderator mention of Craig Reid above means I have absolutely option.... ....but to post these....

At the first hint of a sneer or look down her nose you casually remind her that the last time Manchester Utd sent a team north to play Motherwell they lost 1-0. Thereafter just try to steer the conversation away from multiple European successes and the likes and you should get away with having the upper hand.....

Does our early kick-off add an extra dimension to Saturday now? We have the opportunity to be home and hosed before the others kick-off but if we don't get at least a point against Celtic then of course the rest know exactly what they need to do by that point we have no way influencing anything further. Should make for an interesting day.

It's certainly not beyond the realms of possibility that all those results could go against us. But Killie and Accies are obviously fighting for their lives and Ross County still have a chance of making the top six themselves so it's not as if any of the opponents of our challengers for the top half will be coasting along. It also removes any slim chance that we might have gone into Saturday thinking job done, we can relax now.

...smirked Ged Brannan inwardly as the Sky TV trucks slowly edged their way up Edward Street towards Fir Park.

A fair and reasoned response Gadgey and indeed earlier from Ya Bezzer and Sinjy also. I totally get that interest in our manager if and when it came would mean things have gone well. Again I acknowledge I may well be worrying about nothing since there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever of interest or itchy feet but I can't shake the feeling at the back of my mind that McGhee still seeks to attain that fulfillment as a manager he believes he hasn't had - and I'm not so sure that would be at Fir Park. Swansea is a decent example of a seemingly seamless transition from manager to manager but a little closer to home clubs such as Dundee Utd and Hibernian illustrate the importance of having the right person at the helm where in the recent past they also had a rich pool of talent coming through and a structure in place. As regards McGhee's first term important to make a distinction between McGhee "leaving us in a mess" as you put it, which wasn't at all what I was trying imply, and him being not appearing to be overly keen on a rebuilding job on a lower budget. In reference to Gannon and what he did in terms of recruitment, you actually make my very point that this was what was required but McGhee chose to go elsewhere rather than do it. I'm not apportioning blame at all on him for the board deciding to move on promising players and cutting the budget but the fact of the matter is that we are likely to be revisiting this very scenario very soon, and potentially more than once in the coming seasons. I just wonder what he'll do this time around and where it leaves us. Ultimately of course the root of my concern is that when we seem to be in a pretty good place I just fear something that knocks us off course.

Your thoughts and votes please...

My concern with McGhee has never been about him coming back or whether he could do it, it's about what happens when he's done it. I've always believed in his ability to improve a squad and thought his appointment was sound in that regard, but hanging around long enough to build a team on a low budget and relying on youth development? Hmmm... Perhaps I'm doing him a dis-service but after moving on after his team plateaud and required rebuilding first time around, I remain a shade sceptical of his desire to do this now. I guess it would be the same dilemma for any successful manager of course but however sincere Mark was when Les put his demands to him about putting together a squad with a considerable emphasis on youth and one that had to trade on talent, I just think a manager of his ambition would find it irresistible if a bigger club or one with a more substantial budget came in for him. The thing I liked about the thinking behind the Barraclough appointment (if not the actual choice of manager itself) was that it seemed to be a "project" style appointment. You know, getting the structure of the club right so the conveyor belt of talent delivers, is replaced, replaced again all the while augmented by signings in the mould of Moult or Johnson. We seem to be making excellent progress at first team, U20 and further down the youth levels, it would be great if McGhee was able to see that right through to fruition. I just worry the lure of that "last chance" at a bigger side might, at some stage, prove too strong. For now though these are very exciting times. We're on a tremendous run, have made good progress this season with the hope that, with a full pre-season with his team to come and with many of the squad still developing, there are even better things to come in the future!

Not sure how much truth there is in it but the Bully Wee fan in work suggested they had until today or tomorrow to register their kits for next season. They released an image of their kit which involves some money making scheme where folk could get their names on it and it's apparently been serious under-subscribed. The point being if that's the case for them then one would assume it might be the same for the rest of us? Maybe we'll get a wee inkling soon then as to what we might be running out in next season.

Perhaps there has to be movement on both "sides". People who have something to bring to the WS table may have to be a bit more forward than they might like in bring their talents to the WS's attention if they have the time available and equally the WS may have to do more to sniff out and covet those with suitable skills. Reading the last few posts and one recently about local businesses having a "preferred" status actually takes me back to the evening where John Boyle intimated he was going and Dempster gave a loose idea of the vision for going forward. I recollect that one of the strands of the visions, as I interpreted it anyway, was much the same as is being mooted here. She made the point that it might not all be the about hard cash. Example. GAAG IT LTD. are not in a position to assist the Well Society financially however through their expertise can develop the the WS's current IT strategy. WS grateful as they are undoubtedly highlight this assistance regularly by sticking a big GAAG IT LTD logo on their website and a company profile with it that some time later Mr Small Business Owner observes and, knowing of their support of the WS chooses to put his business GAAG's way. GAAG seeing that the clickthrough has originated from the WS and the customer is therefore a fellow 'Well fan triggers the small discount to make the transaction that bit more attractive for Mr Small Business Owner. The same principle stands however for individual supporters and investors but it's never really come to fruition though. But somehow in tandem with getting the necessary finance on board, if the WS were able to get people on board through providing their skills and acumen that is only going to strengthen the society and the bond between the WS, club and support going forward.

Nice as they are the tribute kit stuff was surely just marketing spin applied to kits that were made markedly different enough from those season before to help boost sales. You'll struggle to convince me that the starting point at either Macron or Motherwell was to pay homage to Willie Pettigrew or the 94`95 side.

I've got a mug with the image on it. The guy has done loads of a very similar style for lots of different teams. I've also seen ones for Murrayfield and different sports too. I would guess once you've seen a few images of a stadium either empty or full you can pretty much copy the structure and fill in the gaps with the crowd making it sufficiently different that you aren't infringing a copyright.

Kennedy's an interesting one for me. Like most when I watch him play I enjoy his physicality and willingness to put in a challenge.....but I can't shake off the feeling that it's not a case of if he's going to do something incredibly daft but when. A younger, less experienced and less psychotic version of Tim Clancy if you will. Happily though he is young enough that, you would hope, with more experience the rashness will fade. Whilst he might have Manchester City and Leicester on his CV he's not got that much first team experience behind him so he's miles from the finished article yet.

Bit of a ramble from me about recent events and where we are currently if you're bored and want to pass a minute or two... https://andrewpatersonblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/too-good-to-be-true/

Perhaps in terms of direct involvement in front of goal although that said the three instances that immediately spring to mind as regards chances he hit the post, kindofasortof had an assist for McDonald's goal, then scored himself through his alertness and finish prowess. But what I think is increasingly setting him apart is the work rate and his selflessness. We've been fortunate to have a couple of really prolific goalscorers in recent seasons and whilst he's maybe still to surpass them in terms of goals he's arguably a step up because not only are you getting goals, you're getting someone who is willing to go wide or deep for the ball. Who will harry and close down defenders whilst not in possession and have the physical make up and desire to be able to chase back half the length of the field deep even late on in matches. So yeah arguably maybe not man of the match but I can't praise the guy high enough for what he brings to our team at the moment.

Your thoughts and votes please.....